a National Registered Historic Place

In 2009 we are celebrating 45 years of presenting Washington's logging history.

For those of you that found our Web site missing from April 7th through 21st., we apologize. Our domain registration has been renewed through 2029.
 
Spring: 2009
Summer: 2009
Logging Train Rides
Don Olson's Book 
Links

 



Camp 6 is operated for the benefit of the visiting public by the
Tacoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

(a 501c3 organization)

The staff is 100% volunteer. If you would like to be involved, let us know.

Fares from the museum's railroad operations, gift shop sales, grants, individual and corporate donations account for all funds used to operate, improve, and maintain Camp 6.

Metro Parks Tacoma is only our Landlord and does NOT fund Camp 6.

Camp 6 Logging Museum is owned by Western Forest Industries Museum, Inc.,
a sub-entity of The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation.


Our mission is to preserve and present to the public a portion of Washington State's history from the 1880's through the 1940's as it pertains to the "Steam Era of Logging". With photographs, paintings, artifacts and equipment displays, Camp 6 takes the visitor back in time from when horse and ox teams hauled out the timber up through the last days that steam powered "Donkeys" and Railroads worked the woods. Visitors will see first hand what life in the logging camps and woods of Western Washington was like.


The Museum is located on a 14 acre forested site inside a city park and was set up by logging engineers in 1964 to look and feel like a logging operation with an operating railroad connecting the working sites ("sides" or "shows") with the bunk houses and bunk cars of the camp. As a National Registered Historic Place, Camp 6 with its historic buildings, over 500 tons of "Fire Breathin' Steam Spewin' Iron Beasts" and railroad equipment is a place for all to visit.

Admission to the Museum's grounds is free all year round. Indoor exhibits are open April through October, Wednesday - Sunday from 10 AM until 4 PM
(Summer hours are extended).
The P.D.Q. & K. Railroad operates Logging Train Rides on Weekends, April through September, with departures starting at Noon.
The Camp 6 Santa Train operates the first three weekends of December.

Camp 6 is located in the City of Tacoma's Point Defiance Park
in wonderful Washington State.
Directions:

From Interstate 5 North or South to City of Tacoma.
Exit onto State Route 16 West (Gig Harbor / Olympic Peninsula).
 Travel west until you come to the 6 Avenue Exit.

Take 6 Ave. exit and stay in center lane of off ramp so you can go straight at light.
After you cross intersection, move to the far right turn lane.
Now turn right at corner onto Pearl St. and go north to end of street (about 3.5 miles).

If you are coming from the Olympic Peninsula on State Route 16 East
across the Narrows Bridge, take the second exit after crossing the bridge.
At end of exit ramp turn right on to Pearl Street and go north to end of street (about 3.5 miles).

Pearl St. ends at entrance to Point Defiance Park.

Enter Park and follow signs to Five Mile Drive. At first STOP sign go straight
through intersection then merge into left lane. Stay to the left  as you pass several
turnoffs and two more STOP signs. The entrance to Camp 6 Logging Museum is on
right side of road just past that last STOP sign.

WARNING: Watch out for inverted speed bumps in our parking lot!  (Pot Holes)
See you soon!

Our OUTDOOR EXHIBITS are accessible as long as Point Defiance Park
is open, sun-up to sun-down daily, all year round.

Please note that severe winds or weather may close the park at any time.
Check Metro Parks Weather Web Page or call (253) 305-1062 to check on park closings or for information on Point Defiance Park's other attractions.


    Spring Exhibits: 2009

Camp 6's Outdoor Exhibits are accessible as long as Point Defiance Park is open, sun-up to sun-down daily all year round.
Admission is same as 1964's rate: Free

Spring Exhibits Hours:

The Indoor Exhibits and Buildings are open
April 4 thru May  22, 2009
Wednesdays thru Sundays
10 AM until 4 PM
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Summer Exhibits: 2009

Summer Exhibits Hours:

The Indoor Exhibits and Buildings are open
May23 thru September 27, 2009
Wednesdays thru Fridays
10 AM until 4 PM
Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays
10 AM until 7 PM

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Camp 6 will be closed on Saturday, 4th of July


Logging Train Rides: 2009

The P.D.Q. & K. Railroad Logging Train Rides

Fares:**
 Children 3 to 12: $2.75
General Admission 13 to 54: $4.25
Seniors: 55 to 99: $3.25
Under 3 or Over 99: FREE
Are you a member of a Historical Society ?
Show current membership card for discount fare.
GI's & Family members show DOD ID Card for discount fare.

2009 Logging Train Specials:

Mother's Day, Father's Day & Armed Forces Day
Mom, Dad & GI's ride Free on your day.

Spring Logging Train Hours:

  April 4 thru May 17, 2009
Saturdays and Sundays from

Noon until 4 PM
with departures every 30 minutes.


Summer Logging Train Hours:

  May 23 thru September 27, 2009
Saturdays and Sundays

Open Memorial Day & Labor Day

Noon until 6:30 PM
with departures every 30 minutes.

Camp 6 will be closed on Saturday, 4th of July

The Fine Print:

 The Museum staff may delay or cancel Train Operations for Safety Issues if required.
 Additionally, as our operating equipment is in excess of 68 years old, we will do our best to keep it in safe running order for you.
No promises are made or implied that the equipment will play along with us. If a run is canceled your unused tickets are refundable.
** Camp 6 has attempted to keep our fares as low as possible over the last 44 years.
Our  fares reflect the additional expense needed to cover our Operating Insurance and fuel .
 Remember, we have no paid staff, we are not government funded and all, if any, profits go back
 into the Museum to keep it open.
 Additionally, WA State Sales Tax of 9.3% is included as required in Prices.
School Tours & Youth Group Visits 

We will try to accommodate your requests for visits during weekdays
with at least three (3) weeks notice from you of your expected visit date.
Guided walking tours for the museum run about one hour and are free.

NOTE: If Logging Train Ride is included there is a $1.50 fare per student/youth.

Teachers: If you are visiting Fort Nisqually while in Point Defiance Park,
we will be glad to coordinate your visit with us to work with your pre-booked
time at the fort. For additional information contact us by e-mail,
or call  (253) 752-0047

  LOGGING RETROSPECTIVE: DON OLSON'S OIL PAINTINGS
Available only from Camp 6


A collection of Don Olson's paintings depicting historical methods of logging has been displayed at the Camp 6 for many years. (NOTE: The paintings are displayed during the Summer season, May to September, in one of the museum's Bunk Cars.) Since Don began developing his artistic talent in the 1970s, his paintings of both Northwest scenery and logging have been displayed in museums and purchased by collectors. This book brings together twenty-nine loging paintings covering the time period most familiar to the artist.


Donald E. Olson, PE, 1921 - 2008. Rest In Peace Friend.


Don's experience working in the logging industry from the 1930s through the 1950s enables him to portray logging methods with historical accuracy. This, in turn, has made his paintings valuable tools for educational groups touring the museum.

Unique "ghost logger" paintings  which contrast early logging methods using steam donkeys, skid roads and misery whips with the chain saws, cats and logging trucks of the 1950s and later are a hallmark of many of Don's paintings. The Camp 6 Logging Museum is proud to present Logging Retrospective: Don Olson's Oil Paintings featuring his rendition of a primary display at the museum - the only Lidgerwood Pacific Tower Skidder still in existence.
This book is an 8 1/2 X 11 softbound book of 64 pages including 26 full page color prints.
Published by the Camp 6 Logging Museum.
First Printing funded by The Betsy Ross Foundation, Inc. (a Tennessee Corporation).
Second Printing funded by proceeds received from sell-out of First Printing.
All proceeds benefit Camp 6 Logging Museum.
BOOK MAY BE PURCHASED BY MAIL FROM :

CAMP 6 LOGGING MUSEUM
P.O.BOX 340
TACOMA, WA 98401-0340

Mail Postal Money Order or Check for $44.75
(Price includes WA Sales Tax and $5.00 S/H)



 
 

E-Mailcamp6museum@harbornet.comfor more Info.
 

We try to update our WEB PAGE monthly so please visit again soon.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions about this Web Page send them to us at camp6museum@harbornet.com

The Tacoma Chapter, National Railway Historical Society may be reached at tcnrhs@harbornet.com

or by Snail Mail at: TC,NRHS   P.O.Box 340    Tacoma, WA 98401-0340

The Camp 6 Recorded Information Phone Number is (253) 752-0047

  This is an iMac creation using Netscape 7 and MacOS 10.4.11   
Updated: 22 April 2009
© 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Tacoma Chapter, National Railway Historical Society and
Camp 6 Logging Museum
 

 More Web Sites to Explore !


Through the use of Panoramic VR (Virtual Reality) Photography, you can interactively view Camp 6
thanks to Bradford Bohonus, Virtual Reality Photographer

 Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, Elbe, Washington

Washington State OPERATION LIFESAVER

National Railway Historical Society

Tourist Railroad Association, Inc. ( TRAIN )

Like More Trains ?  Visit these Links:

RAILROAD ATTRACTION DATABASE

 RAILROADINFO.COM

Community Links:

 Tacoma-Pierce County Visitors & Convention Bureau

 Tacoma Public Library

 Visit Tacoma's Parks